Blackett Strait
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Blackett Strait is a waterway in the Western Province of the Solomon Islands. It lies between the islands of Kolombangara to the north, and Arundel Island (Kohinggo) to the south. It connects Vella Gulf to the west with Kula Gulf to the east.
During the Solomon Islands campaign in World War II, the Battle of Blackett Strait was fought here between the Imperial Japanese Navy and the United States Navy on the night of 5–6 March 1943.
A battle which military historians would not believe even merited a name, but became famous in American popular culture was in August of 1943, when John F. Kennedy's PT-109 was rammed by a destroyer, and saved by local native's Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana in a dugout canoe.
Parts of the story of John F. Kennedy's PT-109 |
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Ships: PT-109 • PT-109 Loss Report • PT 59 • PT Boat • Elco • Japanese destroyer Amagiri • Fubuki class destroyer • Tokyo Express People: John F. Kennedy • Arthur Reginald Evans • Coastwatchers • Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana • Andrew Jackson Kirksey and Harold W. Marney • Max Kennedy • Places: Solomon Islands • Kolombangara • Gizo • Kennedy Island • Lumbari Island • Rendova Island • Tulagi Battles:Battle of Blackett Strait • Solomon Islands campaign • Battle of Vella Gulf • PT-109-bilia PT 109 (film) The Search for Kennedy's PT 109 PT-109 (comic book) • • PT-109 (song) • PT-109 (model) •
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